photovideo

Photovideo is the practice of capturing still photographs and moving images within a unified workflow. It describes projects, equipment, and techniques that blend photography and videography, often using hybrid cameras or synchronized devices. Photovideo emphasizes consistency in composition, lighting, color, and storytelling across both formats, and it is commonly used in documentary work, commercials, events, and creative storytelling where stills and footage inform and complement each other.

Equipment ranges from dedicated mirrorless or DSLR cameras capable of high-quality stills and 4K or higher video, to smartphones and cinema cameras. Key considerations include sensor performance, autofocus reliability, stabilization, dynamic range, and the ability to record both RAW or wide-gamut video and high-resolution stills. Many systems support dual recording modes, timecode, external audio, and interchangeable lenses to cover both disciplines.

File formats and color management are central to photovideo. Still images often use RAW or high-quality JPEGs; video uses MP4, MOV, or Cine codecs with various bitrates and color spaces. Professionals may employ log or RAW workflows to preserve dynamic range for grading, and timecode or metadata to synchronize audio, video, and stills across cameras.

Workflows typically address planning, shooting, and postproduction. Photovideo projects may involve shot lists that alternate between stills and motion, parallel color grading for visual consistency, and synchronized editing timelines. Archiving practices emphasize preserving both file types and associated metadata, with careful backup and version control.

Historically, advances in digital imaging and hybrid cameras in the late 2000s and 2010s expanded the accessibility of photovideo, enabling creators to capture versatile content with a single device and integrated workflows. The term continues to describe an overlapping skill set in photography and cinematography, as tools and standards evolve with software, codecs, and sensor technology.